Premier League team news and statistics

Soccer:All the latest team news ahead of this weekend's Premier League fixtures.

Saturday, February 2nd

Arsenal (6) v Stoke (10)

New signing Nacho Monreal could go straight into the Arsenal side. Centre-back Thomas Vermaelen (ankle) is a doubt, but midfielder Mikel Arteta may return after his calf injury. Left-back Kieran Gibbs is out for around six weeks with a thigh problem, while Francis Coquelin (hamstring) is also sidelined and forward Gervinho is away at the African Nations Cup.

Stoke have no new injury problems but new signings Jack Butland and Brek Shea will not be involved, goalkeeper Butland has been loaned back to Birmingham and winger Shea is recovering from a foot operation. Matthew Upson and Rory Delap have left the club and fellow defender Marc Wilson, out since October with a broken leg, hopes to play a reserve game next week as he builds up to a first-team return.
Last season:Stoke 1 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 3 Stoke 1
Last five league matches:Arsenal D L L W D; Stoke D L L L D
Top scorers(all competitions): Theo Walcott (Arsenal) 18; Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 8
Match odds:H 4-9 A 11-2 D 16-5
Referee:Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Everton (5) v Aston Villa (19)

Everton midfielder Darron Gibson, out since December with a thigh problem, could start. It remains to be seen whether or not striker Nikica Jelavic will be restored to the first XI and it is not expected that teenager John Stones, recruited from Barnsley on transfer deadline day, will be involved. Fellow defenders Seamus Coleman (thigh) and Tony Hibbert (calf) remain sidelined.

A hamstring injury rules out Fulham’s former United striker Dimitar Berbatov for up to 10 days. Steve Sidwell, Mahamadou Diarra (both knee), Kerim Frei (pelvis) and Kieran Richardson (calf) are also sidelined but AC Milan loanee Urby Emanuelson could make his debut, although fellow deadline day signings Stanislav Manolev and Eyong Enoh are unavailable as they wait for their work permits.

Magpies midfielders Sylvain Marveaux and Moussa Sissoko, striker Yoan Gouffran and defender Steven Taylor will be available. Only midfielders Hatem Ben Arfa (hamstring) and Cheick Tiote, who is on duty with Ivory Coast at the African Nations Cup, will not figure for the home side.

Blues keeper Peter Cech is set to replace Ross Turnbull after recovering from a calf strain, while midfielder Juan Mata has shaken off an ankle problem. John Terry could return in defence but David Luiz (calf) and long-term absentee Oriol Romeu (knee) are still out and John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses are at the African Nations Cup, while Eden Hazard serves the final game of a three-match suspension.
Last season:Chelsea 0 Newcastle 2, Newcastle 0 Chelsea 3
Last five league matches:Newcastle L L D L W; Chelsea L W D W D
Top scorers(all competitions): Yoan Gouffran (Newcastle) 12; Demba Ba (Chelsea) 16
Match odds:H 10-3 A 3-4 D 13-5
Referee:Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

QPR (20) v Norwich (14)

QPR manager Harry Redknapp could hand debuts to new signings Christopher Samba, Jermaine Jenas and Andros Townsend, although he believes fellow new boy Yun Suk-young needs some time to settle in. Junior Hoilett is fit to feature following a hamstring problem but Jamie Mackie (tonsilitis) is a doubt, while Ryan Nelsen and Alejandro Faurlin have left the club.

Noel Hunt faces a late fitness test ahead on an unspecified knock. Royals boss Brian McDermott, who is already without Jason Roberts (hip), must decide whether or not to promote Adam Le Fondre to the starting line-up. The striker again impressed off the bench against Chelsea, scoring twice for the second successive league game — but McDermott has stressed his best role is presently as a substitute.

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is hoping to give more minutes to striker Andy Carroll as the striker continues to find fitness following a knee injury. The England striker is again likely to be on the bench for the Hammers, who are still without defensive trio George McCartney (knee), James Collins (hamstring) and Dan Potts (concussion).

Saints captain Adam Lallana could make his first start in nearly two months after recovering from a knee injury. New signing Vegard Forren was not involved in the defeat at Manchester United but could force himself into the squad, although Jose Fonte and Guly Do Prado (both knee) are likely to miss out.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Wigan W L D L D; Southampton D W D D L
Top scorers(all competitions): Jordi Gomez (Wigan) 7; Rickie Lambert (Southampton) 10
Match odds:H 1-1 A 12-5 D 5-2
Referee:Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

Sunday, February 3rd

Man City (2) v Liverpool (7)

City, again without captain Vincent Kompany, hope fellow defender Matija Nastasic is fit to start after a knee problem — otherwise midfielder Javi Garcia may again have to deputise. Right-back Maicon (knee) is back in training and could soon be available while fellow defender Micah Richards (knee) hopes to return this month. Midfielder Yaya Toure and defender Kolo Toure are still on international duty.

New signing Phillippe Coutinho will not be in the Liverpool squad — the Brazilian has briefly returned to Milan after Wednesday’s switch from Inter and will not return until next week. Left-back Jose Enrique could start having made his comeback from a hamstring injury in the draw at Arsenal.
Last season:Man City 3 Liverpool 0, Liverpool 1 Man City 1
Last five league matches:Man City W W W W D; Liverpool W W L W D
Top scorers(all competitions): Edin Dzeko (Man City) 11; Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 22
Match odds:H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-4
Referee:Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).

West Brom (9) v Tottenham (4)

West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie, not considered for the game at Everton after his new-born son was readmitted to hospital, misses out on Sunday’s match due to the fall-out from his attempt to join QPR. Youssouf Mulumbu is available after returning to the club from African Nations Cup duty following DR Congo’s exit, but fellow midfielder George Thorne is ruled out with a knee injury.

We reserve the right to remove any content at any time from this Community, including without limitation if it violates the Community Standards. We ask that you report content that you in good faith believe violates the above rules by clicking the Flag link next to the offending comment or by filling out this form. New comments are only accepted for 3 days from the date of publication.